Robert c



(No Model.)

B. G. ELLRIGH.

MEAT CUTTER.

No. 545,785. I Patented Sept. 5, 1895.

qswi.

ROBERT C. ELLRICH, OF SOUTHINGTON, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO IECK, STOIV& WILCOX COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

TATES THE MEAT-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 545,785, datedSeptember 3, 189 5.

Application filed March 20, 1895; Serial No. 542,519. (No model-Y whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in meat-cutters, and the mainobjects of my improvement are to increase the efficiency and durabilityof the machine and to provide for the more convenient and betteradjustments of the parts.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of mymeat-cutter. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same with thescrew-adjusting rod in elevation. Fig. 3 is an end view of the screw orcombined forcer and cutter. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the knife, showingits inner side. Fig. 5 is a side elevation ofone part of the case,showing its inner side; and Fig. 6 is a plan view of a portion of theperforated plate.

My invention isin the nature of an improvement upon the 1neat-cutterpatented to Amos Shepard,April19, 1892, No. 473,166, and issubstantially the same in its general form; but I have made such changesin the construction thereof as to adapt it for use in connection with aperforated plate and knife, while at the same time I provide a newadjustment for the knife that works against said plate, which plate andknife are also applicable to other meat-cutters.

On the delivery end of the two parts A B of the longitudinally dividedand separable case I form an inwardly-projecting ledge 7, holding saidparts together by the clamp-like standard C, Fig. 1. I also provide oneof said parts, preferably the part A, with a steadypin orlug 8, adjacentto said ledge 7, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. These parts A B may beotherwise substantially the same as in the aforesaid patent, with thelong and short feeding-ribs 9 10 and series of cutting elevations 11,with spaces between, as shown in my Fig. 5.

The combined forcer and cutter, which for convenience I will call thescrew D, is made to fit the case, and is provided with a shank orshaft-like projection 12, for the attachment of any suitable crank, asshown by the crank end 13, the crank being represented as broken oif inorder to economize space. This screw is bored through longitudinally,with a portion of the bore threaded and a screw-adjusting rod 14 screwedtherein, as shown. In the center of the delivery end of the screw I forman angular socket 15. A perforated plate E, preferably of disk form-thatis hav ing two like sides is placed between the two parts of the case,just inside the ledge 7, and with the pin or lug 8 projecting into thenotch 16, Fig. 6, of said plate. Inside of said perforated plate is aknife 17, with any desired number of arms, preferably four, and aninwardly-projecting angular hub 18, which is fitted loosely to and restswithin the angular socket in that end of the screw.

After use the principal parts will be separated for cleaning. When it isdesired to use the machine again, the knife-hub is placed within itssocket; at the end of the screw D, the screw and knife together placedwithin one of the parts of the case, preferably the part A, theperforated plat-e placed in position between the ledge 7 and the knife,and with the notch 16 in engagement with the pin 8, the other part ofthe case put on over the screw, knife, and plate, and the whole securedwithin the standard. The crank may not have been taken off, but if sothe knurled head of the screw-adjusting rod 14 issmall enough so thatthe crank can be put on without removing said rod. This rod is thenturned to force the knife properly against the perforated plate. Thesame act will alsohave a tendency to force one side of the cuttingelevations on the case and engaging side walls of the grooves in thescrew into active engagement, even if the two parts of the case have notbeen firmly bound upon the screw or in case they are worn so as not tofit. The action of the screw and case on the meat is the same as in theaforesaid patent, the first part of the screw near the hopper forcingthe meat along, while the cutting elevations of the screw and case actto cut the meat to a greater or less extent, dependent upon the numberof cutting elevations and the pitch of the grooves and ribs on thescrew. The pitch at the cut ting elevations can be varied at pleasure toobstruct the flow of the meat or to let it flow ICO more rapidly. Afterpassing the end of the screw the meat is further reduced by the actionof the perforated plate and the knives bearing thereon; In this machinethe screw is firmly held in its bearings by being bound at itsperipheral portion by the two parts of the case, so that it cannot rockto make the knife-accommodate itself to the face of the perforatedplate.

By having the knife arranged as described, with the rounded end of thescrew-adjusting rod bearing on the end of its hub likea pivot or step,the knife is free to rock and accommodate itself to the inner face ofthe perforated plate, so as to insure a good cutting bearing thereon atall points.

I prefer in all cases to employ a case and screw which shall materiallycut the meat before it reaches the perforated plate, as meat so out isbelieved to run through the perforated plate more readily and withgreater ease than when the perforated plate and knife alone are dependedupon to do the principal cutting; but it is evident that while myimproved plate and knife are particularly adapted to co-operate with theparticular screw and case herein described, the construction is alsoadapted to an ordinary forcing-screw and case in which the principalcutting is done by the perforated plate and its knife. I also prefer tomake the angular knife-holding socket in the end of the screw and theangular hub as a projection on the knife; but the projection and socketmight be reversed and have the same screw-adjusting rod act inconnection therewith.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of a meat cutter case, itsscrew, the knife fitted thereto by an engaging angular recess andprojection, the perforatedplate and the screw adjusting rod extendedthrough said screw for forming a step or pivot upon which the knife mayrock, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination of a two part longitudinally divided and separablecase having cutting elevations near its delivery end, said case beingextended beyond said elevations, a combined forcing and cutting screwhaving cutting elevations extended to and running out at its deliveryend, said end being fitted to said cutting elevations and supportedaxially by means of the peripheral bearing contact therewith incontradistinction to being supported in plain bearings, and a perforatedplate and knife made separately from said case and screw but attachableto and detachable from the same and confined within the case in thespace between the delivery end of said screw and the delivery end of thecase, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination of a longitudinally divided and separable case havinga series of cutting elevations, a combined forcing and cutting screwhaving a series of peripheral grooves in bearing contact with saidelevation, a perforated plate and knife, and an adjusting device forforcing-said plate and knives against each other and at the same timeforcing the cutting elevations and grooves of the screw and case intoengagement, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

ROBERT C. ELLRICH.

Witnesses:

STEPHEN WALKLEY, E. M. STANNARD.

